| Stenopus hispidus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Genus: | Stenopus |
| Species: | S. hispidus |
| Binomial name | |
| Stenopus hispidus (Olivier, 1811)[1] |
|
Stenopus hispidus is a shrimp-like decapod crustacean belonging to the infraorder Stenopodidea. Common names include banded coral shrimp and banded cleaner shrimp.[2]
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Stenopus hispidus has a pan-tropical distribution,[3] extending into some temperate areas. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Canada to Brazil,[4] including the Gulf of Mexico.[3] In Australia it is found as far south as Sydney and it also occurs around New Zealand.[2]
Stenopus hispidus reaches a total length of 60 millimetres (2.4 in),[2] and has striking colouration. The ground colour is transparent,[5] but the carapace, abdomen and the large third pereiopod are all banded red and white.[2] The antennae and other pereiopods are white.[2] The abdomen, carapace and third pereiopods are covered in spines.[5]
Stenopus hispidus lives below the intertidal zone, at depth of up to 210 metres (690 ft),[2] on coral reefs.[5] It is a cleaner shrimp, and advertises to passing fish by slowly waving its long, white antennae.[5][6] S. hispidus uses its three pairs of claws to remove parasites, fungi and damaged tissue from the fish.[6]